TO:                ALL FIRE CHIEFS IN ERIE COUNTY

FROM:            ERIE COUNTY OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF

DATE:             February 13, 2014

New York State Executive Law §837 (effective April 1, 2000) requires that applicants for membership to volunteer fire departments undergo a non-fingerprint criminal history check against the State’s criminal history files maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to determine if they stand convicted of the crime of arson in New York State.

Effective December 2, 2014, this law was updated to include convictions which require registration as a sex offender only.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office provides this service, at no charge, to local fire departments as required by law. Arson and sex offender registration checks conducted by local law enforcement agencies are not valid.

This law applies to new applicants (prospective volunteer firefighters), current volunteers seeking membership in another fire company (transfers), and reinstatements to membership.

Fire chiefs are encouraged to obtain parental permission before conducting any background investigations on minors.

Fire company officials should complete sections A and B, as well as fields 1 through 10 of the attached DCJS –VFF Volunteer Firefighter Inquiry Form, and should use the applicant/transferee driver’s license and another form of identification (such as a birth certificate, passport or social security card) when completing the forms.

Forms are attached and can be downloaded and completed from the “Forms and Resources” page of the Fire Safety web site at: www.erie.gov/fire. It is available as a “fillable” form in Adobe Acrobat format which allows you to type the information from your PC keyboard directly on to the form and then print it. It’s imperative that the forms be typed or completed legibly by hand or they will be rejected, further delaying the processing. The fire chief can then sign the form and fax, mail or hand-deliver it to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office – Attention: Fire Investigation Unit. Email transmission is not permissible.

The normal turn-around time for completed arson background checks is five (5) business days or less. The results will be mailed to the fire chief.  Please allow for this lead time.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Sheriff’s office at 858-3945 or the Fire Safety Office at 681-7111 should you have any questions or require further information.

Fax, mail or hand-deliver (only) signed and completed DCJS-VFF Forms to:

Erie County Sheriff’s Office                                                    Office Phone: 667-5200

ATTN: Fire Investigation Unit                                                 Fax: 662-8477

One Sheriffs Drive                                                                  E-Mail: fireinvestigation@erie.gov
Orchard Park NY 14127                                                         (Follow-up only - Form cannot be emailed)